Transitory latching switch mechanism



May 26, 1953 J. A. OPPEL ETAL 2,640,122

I TRANSITORY LATCHING SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Nov. 21, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Invntor's: Johr-i A.Oppel, Edward J.Fr-anK,

by I

Then Attorney.

May 6, 1953 J. A. OPPEL ETAL 2,640,122

TRANSITORY LATCHING SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Nov. 21, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Irfiventors: John AOppe Edward JFTranK, b Their Attor-ne y.

Patented May 26, 1953 TRANSITORY LATCHING SWITCH MECHANISM John A. Oppel, Aidan, and Edward J. Frank, Springfield, Pa., assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application November 21, 1950, Serial No. 196,924

8 Claims.

This invention relates to switching control mechanism, particularly of a positive latching type suitable for controlling the electrical closing means of circuit breakers or similar devices of the biased open type.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved electrically operated sequential mechanically latched switching mechanism capable of releasing an operating latch when a holding latch is engaged and of releasing the holding latch to tie-energize the circuit breaker closing means such as motor or solenoid, immediately upon completion of the closing stroke and also incorporates auxiliary holding latch releasing means that prevents improper re-energization of the circuit breaker closing means upon re-establishment of the control power source after an accidental power failure due to a blown fuse or the like.

Thus the invention relates to switching control mechanism and the principal object is to provide an improved sequential transitory latching switch mechanism having selective latch releasing means suitable for use in a circuit breaker closing control or in other transitory switching control service where severe shocks and vibration are likely to be encountered.

Another object is to provide an improved sequential electroresponsive transitory latching switch mechanism having a two position switch member biased to the open position and capable of an initial transitory operation by means of a transitory operating latch actuated by a first electroresponsive operator under control of a master switch to the closed position wherein the switch member is held by a positive holding latch for en ergizing a circuit breaker closing solenoid or secnd electroresponsive operator and provided with means for enabling the solenoid or second operator to immediately release the holding latch so as to open the switch mechanism and thus de-energize itself immediately upon response thereof.

Another object is to enable the first electroresponsive operator to selectively release the hold ing latch so as to open the switch mechanism in case the holding latch has not already been released by the second electroresponsive operator when the first electroresponsive operator becomes ole-energized. Thus in case of any failure of the closing solenoid or second electroresponsive operator to respond or because of power failure during closing operation due to jamming or other faulty conditions so that the energizing circuit of both the first and second electroresponsive operators remain energized for a period likely to produce overheating and blowing of any protective fuses in the circuit, the resulting de-energization of the first electroresponsive operator becomes ef fective to release the holding latch and open the switch mechanism to permit correction of the fault and to permit safe replacement of the fuse.

Another object is to provide an automatically releasable transitory operating latch connection between the first electroresponsive operator and the transitory latching switch mechanism so as to eii'ectively insure against pumping (in case the master closing control switch should be maintained in the closing position) when the holding latch is released by the second electroresponsive operator to return the switch mechanism to the open position in accordance with its bias.

Other objects are to insure a successful closure of the switch mechanism by the first electroresponsive operator, even upon a momentary closure of the master control switch, by means of a sealing-in switch that is closed upon the initial response of the first electroresponsive operator to maintain an eifective energization thereof independently of the master switch and also to re duce the eiiective energization of the first electroresponsive operator as soon as the transitory operating latch is released and the switch mechanism becomes positively latched in the closed position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description of the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a circuit breaker closing control embodying the improvements of the present invention and showing both the electrical control circuit connections and the mechanical latch releasing connections of the improved selective electroresponsive transitory latching switch mechanism with the parts in their normal position ready to perform a circuit breaker closing operation, Fig. 2 is a similar schematic view showing the parts in their relative positions occupied during a closing operation when the circuit breaker solenoid is being energized by the closure and transitory latching of the biased open switch member and just as the latch is about to be released by the resulting closing response of the secondary solenoid plunger.

As schematically shown in Fig. 1, the circuit breaker closing solenoid or second electroresponsive operator indicated generally by the reference character It) is applied to operate a well-known form of circuit breaker mechanism (such as in the Patent 1,827,626) and for this purpose has an armature or plunger H provided with the push rod l2 for engagement with the roller [3 to straighten the circuit breaker closing toggl" links l4 and thereby rotate the bell order against the bias of spring to move the link in the circuit breaker closing direction. be noted that a hold-close prop it is biased by SDlll'lg 2| to engage with the knee pin 01 the toggle links i 4 in the straightened position thereof and thereby maintain the bell crank K5 in the circuit breaker closing position until the trip latch 22 is moved a "ainst the bias of its tting spring 23 upon energization of the trip cc and resulting attraction of armature a? ist the bias or" spring 223 to rotate the trip latch 22 from holding the roller 21" to thereby effect collapse to the left of the toggle i i from the prop l-l' such trip-free type of latched to e operating mechanism forms no part or" the p t invention econ-d elec 'oresponsive operaas the solenoid or tor i0 may be applied. for im rti D =n activating thrust to operate any other device desired.

The armature or plung r l l of the closing sole-- noid i0 is attracted upon energiaation of the solenoid winding 39 by the closure of the improved transitory latching switch me anism oi" the present invention indicated genera reference character 31. This improved mechanism is provided with a first electrorcsponsive operator in the form of a solenoid having an armature or plunger 33 sliding in suitable guide elements 34 and provided with an extension for carrying a one way transitory latch pivot ally supported thereon by the pin 31. The latch 36 is normally biased to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 so as to engage the latch finger 38 thereof with the roller 35. carried on the movable switch member 45 that is pivotally supported on the pin 4! extending from a bracket 42. The movable switch member 43 also 0 ries an insulating contact housing 35 sec; thereto by the screw 49 and having the contact finger 4! yieldingly mounted the means of the wipe spring n. The 111m switch member 4'8 is biased to the open position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 by means of the opening bias spring 59 and in which be upturned stop 51 engages with the stationary pin 52 so that the yieldingly mounted movable switch finger Al is held disengaged from the cooper stationary switch contact 53. Thus the switch member 40 is normally biased to open theenergizing circuit of the solenoid winding 39 of the second electroresponsive operator ill that e2;- tends from a suitable supply source indicated in the drawing as plus and minus through the overload protective fuses 55 and the conductors 51 and 58. These fuses 55 preferably are rate; to blow in case the circuit breaker closin solenoid winding should be maintained energizes for any appreciable interval since such a closing solenoid winding ordinarily has only a short time current carrying rating.

In order to close the normally open switch member 40, a solenoid or first electroresponsive operator 32 may be energized from the same suitable supply source through the conductors 55, 60, normally closed switch 37, conductor El and the master control switch 62 that is normally biased to the open position in which it shown by the spring 63. Thus upon any momentary or extended closure of the master control switch 62 the low resistance portion of the solenoid winding or first electroresponsive operator 32 becomes energized very strongly due to the short circuiting of the conventional high resistance portion of the solenoid winding by by the switch iii) switch 91 and armature 33 is attracted to carry the finger 38 of latch into engagement with roller 39 and thereby move the switch i ember about the pivot H to carry the yieldingly mounted switch finger 41 into circuit closing engagement with the stationary switch finger 53 and thereby energize the circuit breaker closing solenoid winding 39 of the second electroresponsive operator 10. As soon as the wiping engagement of the switch contacts 4? and E3 is effected, the main transitory latch 65 is biased to move about the pivotal mounting pin by the spring 66 so as to engage with the roller and thereby latch the main switch contacts 47 and '53, in circuit closing engagement. Thus when the ringer Bl projecting irom the one way transitory latch 36 engages with the stop {38 to produce clockwise movement of the latch during an appropriate over-travel of the armature so as to release the latch finger from its driving engagement with the roller 3%. the main latch 65 immediately engages the roller and thus becomes effective to hold switch member and thereby maintain the contact fingers 3? and 53 in circuit closing engagement.

Upon the initial response of t e armat re 33 to the strong energization of the low 1' ance part of the solenoid winding 3: of the troresponsive operator, the movable svutch member 41: is connected by the link to move the bell crank arm H against the bias of spring 12 to engage with the operating pin 13 or the sealing-in switch contact M and thereby move contact '54 against the bias of spring l5 to its circuit closing position. This closes a s .lg-in circuit extending from the plus supply sou through one of the iuses conduc ocs and Z1 in shunt with the master 0 l swit'ih 62 so as to insure a continued closing operation of the switching contacts 17 and even upon a momentary closure of the master control ewi "h 62 and thereby insures a continued energisatiou of the circuit breaker closing solenoid 36.

As soon as the circuit breaker closing solenoid winding 30 becomes effectively energized so as to attract the armature ll upwardly to close the circuit breaker as indicated in 2, if the closing operation is successful, then the head 28 the pin 8! extending from the armature i will engage with the bent finger 82 extending from the latch tripping lever 83 that is pivotally mounted on the fixed pin 52 and provided with a finger 84 for engaging with the pin 85 carried by the main latch 65 so as to rotate this latch 65 about the pin 52 out oi: latching engagement with the roller 39 and enable the opening bias; spring to return the switch member All to its open position in engagement with the pin 52 and thereby separate the switch finger 4! from the stationary switch finger 53. In this way the control power to the circuit breaker closing solenoid 30 is cut off at a precise predetermined instant upon response thereof to effect a full closure oi the circuit breaker; and it will. be understood that the latch tripping member 83 could be actuated from any moving mechanism member associated with the plunger H which would constitute an equivalent to the bolt 80 shown.

If, however, due to jamming of the circuit breaker mechanism or for any other reason, the closing solenoid 3D is unable to effect a full circuit breaker closing operation so that the head 80 of pin 81 is not moved sufliciently into operating engagement with finger 82 to release the latch and open the contacts 47 and 51 as described above, then the short time rating for energization of the closing solenoid may be exceeded and cause the blowing of one or both of the protective fuses 55. In such case, the solenoid winding of the first electroresponsive operator 32 will likewise be de-energized along with the circuit breaker operating solenoid 38 and the armature 33 will no longer be attracted even though the sealingin switch 14 remains closed. As a result, the biasing spring 35 becomes effective to return the armature 33 to its unattracted position and thereby move an auxiliary latch tripping lever 88 that is coaxially pivotally mounted on the pin 4| and providedwith a slot 89 in operating engagement with the latch pivot pin 31. The auxiliary tripping lever arm 88 carries a tripping roller 98 for engaging with the: cam face 9| formed on the latch member 65 so as to enable the force of biasing spring 35 to rotate the latch 65 about the pivot pin 52 against the comparatively light opposing bias of spring 66 and thereby release the switch member 40 for opening movement in accordance with the bias of spring 50 to disengage the switch contacts 4'! and 53. In this way, the main transitory latch 65 is released upon response of the operating solenoid 32 to de-energization thereof to produce the unlatching of the latch-closed contacts 4'! and 53 equivalent to that of the response of the circuit breaker closing solenoid 30 to a full stroke thereof. Thus, there is no hazard that the control switch, once latched closed, can continue so indefinitely, for, if the normal cut-ofi operation by the opening of contacts 4! and 53 is not achieved through the main trip lever 83 responsive to closing movement of the second operator, then such opening movement is assured automatically by the auxiliary trip lever 88 coincident with the failure of the control power as from blowing of fuses or any other cause. apparatus or person, that power is restored with the control switch contacts 41 and 53 already latched closed so as to hazard an inadvertent or unpremeditated closure of the power operator ll thereby.

In order to reduce the eifective energization of the operating solenoid 32 as soon as the armature 33 has latched the control switch closed to that amount required merely for holding the armature closed, the pivoted auxiliary tripping lever 88 is adapted for operating the switch 91. Thus it is provided with a pin 94 for operating in a suitable slot formed in the pivoted arm 95 so as to engage arm 95 with the operating element 96 of the normally closed switch 91 to effectively insert all of the turns of the high resistance portion of solenoid winding 32 in the circuit as seen clearly in Fig. 2 and in this way limit the energizing current thereof to a safe value. Although the lever 88 could be extended to actuate the member 96 directly, it is found preferable to employ the additional actuating lever 95 thereby to reduce the speed and impact at which the member 96 is actuated in accordance with the movement of armature 33.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A sequential latching switch mechanism having in combination a movable switch member biased to one position, a latch biased to hold the switch member in another position, a first electroresponsive opera-tor having a transitory latch carried thereby for operating the switch member to said other position and provided with means for releasing the transitory latch upon response Accordingly, there is no danger, to I of the first operator to energization thereof and having a connection for releasing the holding latch upon de-energization of the first electroresponsive operator, and a second electroresponsive operator connected to be energized upon movement of the switch member to the other position and provided with a connection for independently releasing the holding latch upon response of the second electroresponsive operator during the energization of the first electroresponsive operator.

2. A switch mechanism having in combination a two-position switch member biased to one po sition, means including a pivoted holding latch for holding the switch member in the other position, a first electroresponsive opera-tor having a pivoted latch carried thereby for operating the switch member to said other position upon energization of the first operator and provided with means for releasing the operating latch upon engagement or" the holding latch and with a connection for releasing the holding latch upon deenergization of the first electroresponsive operator, and a second electroresponsive operator con nected to be energized upon movement of the switch member to the other position and provided with means for independently releasing the holding latch upon response of the second electroresponsive operator during the energization of the first electroresponsive operator.

3. In a sequential latching switch mechanism, a pair of movable operators, each biased to one position, a two-position switch member having a releasable latch operating connection with one operator provided with means for releasing the operating latch connection upon movement of the one operator to another position to operate the switch member from one position to the other position, electroresponsive means connected to be energized upon movement of the switch member to the other position for moving the other operator to another position and means including a releasable holding latch element having releasing connections with each operator for maintaining the switch member latched in the other position until movement either of the other operator to the other position or of the one operator to the one position.

4. A switch mechanism having in combination a movable switch member biased to one: position, a first latch biased to hold the switch member in another position, a first reversely movable operator having means including a second latch for operating the switch member to said other position and provided with means for releasing the second latch upon operation of the switch member to said other position and having a connection for releasing the first latch upon reverse movement of the first operator, and an electroresponsive operator connected to be energized upon movement of the switch member to the other position and provided with a connection for independently releasing the first latch after the switch member is operated to said other position when the electroresponsive operator responds before the reverse movement of the first operator.

5. A transitory latching switch mechanism having in combination a pivoted switch member biased to the open position, means including a first latch for holding the switch member in the closed position, electroresponsive means for operating the switch member to the closed position and including a pivoted lever provided with a second latch connectable with the switch member for sequentially operating the switch memher to the closed position and releasing the sec ond. latchupon. energization of the electrorespon sive means, an electroresponsive operating device connected to be energized uponmovement of the switch member to. the closed position and having means for releasing the first latch upon normal response of. the electroresponsive operating device, and means carried by the lever for'releasing the'first latch upon deenergization of the electroresponsive means when the elcctroresponsive operating device is ineffective to release the first latch.

6.. A transitory latching switch. mechanism having in combination a movable switch member biased to one position, a roller carried by said member, a reversely movable operating member having a. latch pivoted thereon for engaging the roller to operate the switch member to another position upon movement of the operating mei her in one direction, stop means for releasing the latch fro .1 the roller in said other position, a secondlatch biased into engagement with the roller in said other position for holding, the switch member in said other position, and means conneoted with the operating member for releasing the second lat-ch upon return movement of the operating member in the opposite irection.

7. A transitory latching switch mechanism having in combination a movable. switch member biased to one position, a roller carried by said member, a reversely movable operating 1 ember having a latch pivoted thereon for engaging the roller to operatethe switch member to another position upon movement of the operating member in one direction, stop means for releasing the latch iromthe roller insaid other position, a sec ondlatch biased into engagement with the roller in said other position for holding the switch member ins-aid other position, nieansconnected with the operating member. for releasing the second latch upon return movement of the operating member in the'cpposite clrection, and an independently'operable member for releasing the second ia-tchhaving eleotroresponsive operating means connected to beenergized upon movement or the switch niemberto the other. position.

8. A transitory latching switch. mechanism having in combination a movable" switch member biased to. one position, a roller carried by said member, a reversely movable operating member having a latch. pivoted thereon for engaging the roller to operate the switch member to another position. upon movement of the operating member in one direction, stop means for releasingthe latch: from the roller said other position, asecond latch biased into engagement with the roller. iii-said other position for holding the switch member therein, means connected with the operating member for releasing the second latch upon return movement of the operating member in the opposite direction, and a separately movable memberv for independently releasing the second latch having el ctroresponsive operating means connected to be energized upon movement of the switch member to the other position.

JOHN A. OPPEL.

EDWARD J. FRANK.

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